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NO VEMBER NEWS operations with consulting advice from veteran winemaker Tom DiBello. Pierson was the assistant winemaker at Cedar Creek, Laughing Stock and Township 7 Vineyards & Winery in the Okanagan, and he mentored under winemakers in the valley including Tom DiBello and Mi- chael Bartier. Originally from Montreal, Pierson has an engineering background and moved in 2000 to the Okanagan, where he completed viticulture and wine studies programs at Okanagan College. Visit: fortberens.ca. Sapporo Wine Foundation awards scholarships The Washington Wine Industry Founda- tion awarded a total of $18,000 in schol- arships to 11 applicants for the 2011-12 school year as the students pursue higher education in viticulture or enology. A selec- tion committee comprised of Washington grape and wine industry leaders reviewed applications in July. Formal industry rec- ognition of the students is slated for Feb- ruary 10, 2012, during the Washington As- sociation of Wine Grape Growers annual meeting. The foundation has awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships since 2001. Applications for 2012 scholarships must be post-marked by June 1, 2012. Vis- it: washingtonwinefoundation.org. CENTRAL Tokyo Nagoya Osaka roshima an Haak hires Welch as assistant winemaker Raymond Haak, founder and winemaker at the 8,000-case Haak Vineyards & Win- ery in Santa Fe, Texas, hired Kyle Welch as assistant winemaker. Welch previously worked at 2.3 million-case Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in Woodinville, Wash., and received a bachelor's degree in viticulture and enology from Washington State Uni- versity. Visit: haakwine.com. Balducci vineyards on the market The 2,500-case Balducci Vineyards, a 23- year-old business launched by Rick and Carol Balducci just west of Augusta, Mo., is up for sale with an asking price of $2.45 million. The 76-acre property with 8 acres of vineyards includes a restaurant and tast- ing room, along with the Balduccis' 1860s- era home. Visit: balduccivineyards.com. Debbie Inglis toasts grape king Ed Hughes. Hughes reigns as Ontario's grape king Beamsville, Ontario, grapegrower Ed Hughes is the 2011 grape king for the Grape Growers of Ontario. The Brock University grad received the chain of of- fice from former professor Debbie Ing- lis—the 2010 grape king who is also a Brock scientist and Ontario grapegrow- er. Each year the Ontario Ministry of Ag- riculture, Food and Rural Affairs selects the grape king from a list of nominees. Visit: grapegrowersofontario.com. 22 Wines & Vines nOVeMBeR 2011 GRAPE GROWERS OF ONTARIO